Mealtime Etiquette for Children

Proper mealtime etiquette for children is surprisingly simple, but it does involve more than simply expecting your little one to chew with her mouth closed. According to Cindy Post Senning, etiquette expert with the Emily Post Institute, a child who is merely 5-years-old should be able to sit at the table like an adult for an extended period of time.

  1. Cleanliness

    • According to PBS, cleanliness is a must at any meal. This means everyone in the family ̵1; not just the children ̵1; should come to the table with clean hands and clean faces. Not only is it unsightly for everyone around your children, it̵7;s not sanitary to pass food around with dirty hands and you certainly do not want your child to pass germs from his hands to his food to his mouth. To prevent this, make it a rule that everyone has to spend a few minutes freshening up before mealtime.

    Noises and Eating Style

    • Rude and inappropriate noises can change the feel of a meal in a matter of seconds. According to etiquette expert Emily Post, children at the table should engage in conversation but they should not make impolite noises. Make it a rule in your home that your children are not permitted to burp or slurp at the table. Your children should not chomp their food with their mouths open either, as doing so can make unpleasant noises and it isn̵7;t something anyone wants to see.

    Other Table Manners

    • Children at the dinner table should always use good manners when it comes to speaking. According to Senning, children should be involved in the dinner conversation and be actively engaged in the conversation by answering questions and volunteering information about their day. However, they should not use inappropriate language. Make it clear to your children that they should always politely ask others to please pass whatever it is they want rather than reaching for it or announcing they want a certain dish. They should not say anything negative about food they may not like and they should always ask to be excused instead of simply getting up and walking away from the table. It is also considered a good mealtime manner to thank the hostess or cook for the meal.

    Posture

    • When you are hoping your kids will use their napkins properly and manage to place more food in their mouths than on their laps, you might not consider their posture of any great importance. However, according to Emily Post, good posture at the dinner table is considered good mealtime etiquette. Require that your children sit up straight and keep their elbows off the table.

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